An added benefit of my time at ClarionWest was all the free books I got. Every week we would have a drawing, and Les and Neile would pass out ARCs and donated books, along with a healthy dose of random Archie McPhee goodies. (I’ve got those ubiquitous octo-fingers in mind here.)
Since I live in Seattle, and I am rather eclectic (and ravenous) with my reading, I was in the lucky position of being able to take care of books that my overseas classmates were hesitant to pack up and fly home. The Taker, by Alma Katsu, is one of these books. And I must say, I’m glad I took the gamble.
The Taker is a story weaved within a story, with an extra story thrown in for good measure.
We start with Luke, a downtrodden doctor in a little town in Massachusetts, who makes the acquaintance of an arresting young woman, Lanny, brought to his hospital under police custody. She’s covered in blood, beautiful, and disarming.
Throughout the book, Luke’s story (told in 3rd person, present) mingles with Lanny’s story (told in 1st person, past). Only–wait for it–Lanny is immortal! Katsu takes us through the tale of Lanny’s transformation, her heartache over her one true love, and the darkness that came with being granted what so many wish for.
The third story, plopped in the middle of the book, explores the transformation of the man who gave Lanny her immortality, a Magyar peasant by the name of Adair.
This book is haunting, dark, sexy. In truth it reminds me a lot of Interview With a Vampire, in the best way. The overall mood is contemplative and sad, without being sentimental. The history is rich and varied. The settings are both familiar and utterly obscure. I admit, I have never read a book set in the early 1800′s, in a tiny logging town out in the nether reaches of Massachusetts.
(I especially like when Katsu overlays Lanny’s memories of her hometown with the reality of modern day St. Andrew.)
I would recommend this book if you are in the mood for something quiet, and quietly engaging. The pace is a bit slow at times, but I think that fits with the language, and this kind of story-telling. For a debut novel, I am thoroughly impressed, and I’m excited to see what Katsu does next.
Also, I must add, I am SO much more enthused about the UK cover. I would snap that puppy up in a heartbeat. As it was, this book languished on my bookshelf for about three months, before I bothered reading the jacket copy and got all excited. Though, I think the US cover fits the actual story better. Oh, dilemma.
